Dear carelton, how much would does it normally cost to get wheels trued and tensioned? Also how often do you check that stuff on your wheels? well your mavic io and disc, obviously you cant check spoke tension :/ but like your other racing wheels?

I don't really know prices. Try asking Scrod. I check the tension about twice a year with my hands by squeezing them. Not the best way, I know. But, I can feel if they are really loose.

I know you've posted about trainers/rollers before but I had a question again about a trainer. As a gift I have about $300 to spend on a trainer for the winter. I was wondering if you or anyone you knew had input on the 1up USA trainers. Besides their website, which looks like it's straight off Geocities, they seem to have gotten good reviews and the lifetime warranty is appealing as well. It's going to be used on my road bike so compatability w/ track bike hubs is not an issue.

I know you've posted about trainers/rollers before but I had a question again about a trainer. As a gift I have about $300 to spend on a trainer for the winter. I was wondering if you or anyone you knew had input on the 1up USA trainers. Besides their website, which looks like it's straight off Geocities, they seem to have gotten good reviews and the lifetime warranty is appealing as well. It's going to be used on my road bike so compatability w/ track bike hubs is not an issue.

Yeah, the website isn't great. But, it's weird. A lot of engineers' websites are like that. Ugly, but functional, "Why pay someone to do this?" type of thing.

I've heard nothing but good things about the 1-Up trainer. I've never tried it myself, but I'd like to.

I have the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and I really like it. It gets great reviews from others, too. I even have the optional flywheel for the longer coast-down.

Alright sorry, I was just asking because I'm in the market for a new helmet and I don't really know where to start. I kind of like Specialized and Lazer but just wanted a more experience opinion or suggestion.

Originally Posted by 91MF

i guess if you were really bored and high you might build something like this. i would choose masturbating. or eating doritos.

Alright sorry, I was just asking because I'm in the market for a new helmet and I don't really know where to start. I kind of like Specialized and Lazer but just wanted a more experience opinion or suggestion.

Helmets are similar to cycling shoes in that everyone is shaped/sized a bit differently. Try on various models and see which one fits the shape of your head the best and is the most comfortable for you. After that then you can think stuff like cost, color, weight, etc. Here is a review CC did awhile back

Alright sorry, I was just asking because I'm in the market for a new helmet and I don't really know where to start. I kind of like Specialized and Lazer but just wanted a more experience opinion or suggestion.

Start at your local bike shop. Seriously. That is why they exist.

Originally Posted by mxs

Helmets are similar to cycling shoes in that everyone is shaped/sized a bit differently. Try on various models and see which one fits the shape of your head the best and is the most comfortable for you. After that then you can think stuff like cost, color, weight, etc. Here is a review CC did awhile back

i am am sure i am making too big a deal of this but it looks like you may be the right (or possibly only) person for a decent answer to my question.

i am leaning towards wrapping my new bullhorns from the stem outward. if i recall correctly...i've seen you post that you wrap this way yourself?

i like the idea of the clean finish without tape by the stem, but am concerned about pushing against the edges of the wrap when it is done this way & the likelihood of such wear curling them up. point of information...i am pretty hard on my bar wrap, like it thin & tight, & ride lots of hours, much of it out of the saddle.

carleton, if you do wrap from the stem out...you do it on your track or road bikes? how does it hold up on either or both? would you recommend to others that they wrap their bars this way?

i am am sure i am making too big a deal of this but it looks like you may be the right (or possibly only) person for a decent answer to my question.

i am leaning towards wrapping my new bullhorns from the stem outward. if i recall correctly...i've seen you post that you wrap this way yourself?

i like the idea of the clean finish without tape by the stem, but am concerned about pushing against the edges of the wrap when it is done this way & the likelihood of such wear curling them up. point of information...i am pretty hard on my bar wrap, like it thin & tight, & ride lots of hours, much of it out of the saddle.

carleton, if you do wrap from the stem out...you do it on your track or road bikes? how does it hold up on either or both? would you recommend to others that they wrap their bars this way?

thanx...

Yes, I wrap from the stem outward. This eliminates the need for electrical (or whatever) tape to finish off the bar tape. The bar tape is finished off with the plug.

I use higher quality grip tape (Lizard Skins, Fizik Microtex black or grey, Specialized Roubaix, Velox) which lays down very well. I've never had a problem with it rolling up. I think it's the thicker old-school cork type tape that will do that because it's thick and not tapered at the edges. All of the tapes that I've mentioned are tapered except for the Velox tape which is unpadded and lays down pretty thin anyway.

ON is good and readily available, but you may want to see if any of your local health food stores will sell it in bulk: I get plain NOW powder this way for $3-5/lb. It tastes like clay, so it's easy to sneak into a lot of foods. Most of the time I either add it to oatmeal or drop some in a glass of water and chug it. It's also handy for homemade meal replacement bars.